‘SHORT STORY Resting & Whiting Actes Student Resourcs SHORT STORY PLANNING GUIDE Use this quide to help plan your short story. When writing a short story * your audience * possible appropriate ideas consider: = characters + setting/mood + acentral problem + an interesting plot * possible solutions "a climax/the most excit * resolution = editing = suspense 1, Choose a genre for your story. _eg., fantasy, comedy, romance, sci-fi, mystery, drama, action/adventure 2. Brainstorm possible original ideas for your short story. Original Ideas fora Short Story 3. Decide on a problem or conflict. 9 Choose 3 possible solutions for your conflict and explain a litle about each Choose the best solution for the conflict in your story. (continued) Diana Knight oF page 18 SO[SHORT STORY Reading & Writing Activites ‘Short Story Planning Guide - page 2 4, Create some Characters. eee Te For each character include descriptive characteristics an details that you will use in your story. 5. Decide on aSettiing. Where, when and under what circumstances does the story take place? ‘Use your illustration to make a list of MAKE A DETAILED ILLUSTRATION OF YOUR SETTING [descriptive words to use in your story. (continued) Diana Knight 7 ‘page 19. SrerO2SHORT STORY Reading & Witing Actwtios Short Story Planning Guide - page 3 Plot Outline Briefly outline what will happen in your story. Be sure your points flow in order. Build suspense into your story. Plot your story points in order on the plot line below. Rising Action Reduction —————> Resolution Conflict Resolution Have an obvious climax where the main character has made some kind of decision that affects his or her situation. Tt is at this point in your story that the main character has to deal with the problem or conflict and tries to solve it. The problem or conflict in my story is solved when: Be sure to tie up the loose ends at the end of your story. The proper term for this is the resolution or denouement. Give your story a title. Diana knight 7 Page20 BO